Patents Examined by Barbara D Reinier
  • Patent number: 11153448
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a display that displays a first operator corresponding to a standard application and a second operator corresponding to a one-touch application of a same type that is obtained by changing a setting value of a function of the standard application and that starts if the second operator is touched and a controller that displays, in association with the second operator, information indicating a difference in the setting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Masakazu Ketsuka, Naoki Mukai, Kohei Kaibara
  • Patent number: 11140290
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for processing a digital image of a document, for example, to determine whether the document is a long document. An exemplary method generally includes obtaining a plurality of digital images of the document, segmenting at least a first digital image of the plurality of images into pixels associated with a foreground of the first digital image and pixels associated with a background of the first digital image, detecting a plurality of contours in the segmented first digital image, deciding, for each detected contour of the plurality of contours, whether that contour is an open contour or a closed contour, and determining that one or more sides of the document is out of bounds based, at least in part, on the decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: INTUIT, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay S. Yellapragada, Peijun Chiang, Daniel Lee, Jason Hall, Shailesh Soliwal
  • Patent number: 11137961
    Abstract: A machine-readable, non-transitory recording medium, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus. The machine-readable, non-transitory recording medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause the information processing apparatus to display a special color settings screen for setting an RGB value of drawing data to be printed in a special color included in print data to be transmitted to an image forming apparatus, generate the print data instructing printing of the RGB value set on the special color settings screen in the special color, and transmit the generated print data to the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Kunimi, Masato Tanaka, Hiroki Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11138482
    Abstract: A digital printing system having a linear printhead includes corrections for in-track position errors. A data processing system implements a method for determining an in-track position function which includes printing a test target including a plurality of alignment marks, automatically analyzing a captured image of the printed test target to determine a measured in-track position for each of the alignment marks, comparing the measured in-track positions for the alignment marks to reference in-track positions to determine measured in-track position errors, and determining an in-track position correction function responsive to the measured in-track position errors. The in-track position correction function specifies in-track position corrections to be applied as a function of cross-track position. A corrected digital image is determined by resampling an input digital image responsive to the in-track position correction function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Brian B. Mix, Michael Thomas Dobbertin
  • Patent number: 11126107
    Abstract: A digital printing system having a linear printhead includes corrections for cross-track position errors. A data processing system implements a method for determining a cross-track position function which includes printing a test target including a plurality of alignment marks, automatically analyzing a captured image of the printed test target to determine a measured position for each of the alignment marks, comparing the measured positions for the alignment marks to reference positions to determine measured cross-track position errors, and determining a cross-track position correction function responsive to the measured position errors. The cross-track position correction function specifies cross-track position corrections to be applied as a function of cross-track position. A corrected digital image is determined by resampling the image lines of a digital image responsive to the cross-track position correction function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Brian B. Mix, David W. Dellert
  • Patent number: 11115560
    Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus, a control method, and a control program for more accurately removing the background pattern from the image including the background pattern. An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition module to acquire an input image, a multi-valued image generating module to generate a multi-valued image from the input image, a binary image generating module to generate a binary image acquired by binarizing the input image, a detection module to detect a thin line having a width equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels from the multi-valued image, a background pattern removal image generating module to generate a background pattern removal image in which the thin line is removed from the binary image, based on the thin line detected from the multi-valued image, and an output module to output the background pattern removal image or information generated using the background pattern removal image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Keiji Honda, Kiyoto Kosaka
  • Patent number: 11106954
    Abstract: A method for correcting in-track position errors in a digital printing system having a linear printhead includes printing a test target including a plurality of alignment marks. A data processing system is used to automatically analyze a captured image of the printed test target to determine a measured in-track position for each of the alignment marks. The measured in-track positions for the alignment marks are compared to reference positions to determine measured in-track position errors. An in-track position correction function is determined responsive to the measured in-track position errors, wherein the in-track position correction function specifies in-track position corrections to be applied as a function of cross-track position. A corrected digital image is determined by resampling an input digital image responsive to the in-track position correction function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Brian B. Mix, Michael Thomas Dobbertin
  • Patent number: 11108918
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a method for assessing print quality is described. According to the method, a printed mark is converted into a digital binary mark. A number of values are calculated for the digital binary mark. The number of values include at least a perimeter length value and a value describing a characteristic of an intensity histogram for the digital binary mark. A combined representation of the number of values for the digital binary mark are compared against a combined representation of a number of values for a model printed mark. When the combined representation for the digital binary mark is greater than a predefined distance away from the combined representation for the model printed mark, an operation of a printing device that generated the printed mark is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven J. Simske, Karl Walters, Douglas A. Sexton
  • Patent number: 11108934
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to: receive designation of a particular color; obtain device values of a plurality of colors that are present within a predetermined distance or less from the designated particular color in a color space; and determine a patch configuration based on the device values. In determination the patch configuration, the circuitry is configured to determine a gradation change width of each color material based on a degree of change of a device value of each color material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Matsushima
  • Patent number: 11102378
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus generates and outputs a binarized output pixel value corresponding to an input pixel value; and includes a filter processing unit, a quantizer, and a buffer. The quantizer is configured to quantize a pixel value after a filter process performed by the filter processing unit and thereby generate the output pixel value. The buffer is configured to store for each pixel a difference between (a) a sum of the pixel value after the filter process and the input pixel value and (b) the output pixel value. Further, the filter processing unit performs a bandpass filter process on the basis of the difference stored by the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Toshiaki Mutsuo
  • Patent number: 11095788
    Abstract: A document size detection device includes: a light source that irradiates a document placed on placing means with scanning light via the placing means; a reading unit that receives reflection light from the document via the placing means to acquire image data of the document; and circuitry to set an illumination depth of the scanning light at a size detection time when the size is detected, shallower than an illumination depth of the scanning light at an image reading time when an image of the document is read, and detects, at the size detection time, the size based on a difference between first image data acquired in a state in which the scanning light is switched off and second image data acquired in a state in which the scanning light is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadaaki Oyama, Masamoto Nakazawa, Hiroki Shirado, Tomohiro Sasa, Tatsuya Ozaki, Kohsuke Nambara
  • Patent number: 11093807
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processor performing image processing to image data, an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet based on the image data, and a controller changing an image forming condition of the image forming unit based on user information, in a case where a first measuring image is formed by the image forming unit to generate a first conversion condition for image data conversion in image processing to be performed by an external image processing apparatus, controlling the image forming unit based on the changed image forming condition, and in a case where a second measuring image is formed by the image forming unit to generate a second conversion condition for image data conversion in image processing to be performed by the image processor, controlling the image forming unit based on a default image forming condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Riki Fukuhara, Toshiyuki Miyake, Yutaka Ando, Akihiro Arai, Yuichiro Oda
  • Patent number: 11057543
    Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to updating a lookup table for an imaging system. An initial lookup table for an imaging system is obtained, the initial lookup table mapping between a first color space and a second color space. A smoothed version of the initial lookup table is also obtained. Further obtained are color property values corresponding to nodes of the lookup tables that map from a vertex-to-vertex axis of the first color space. The color property values are derived from measurements of test areas rendered by the imaging system. For a target node of the smoothed version of the initial lookup table that maps from the vertex-to-vertex axis, a pair of nodes in the initial lookup table are selected based on the obtained color property values. A mapped value in the second color space for the target node is updated, based on an interpolation of mapped values for the pair of nodes in the initial lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Morovic, Jan Morovic, Victor Diego Gutierrez, Javier Maestro Garcia
  • Patent number: 11055886
    Abstract: There is provided a method for filling at least one color in one or more outline images at a multi-function device. The method includes providing a user interface for displaying a color fill option. Based on receiving a selection of the color fill option, a file including at least one outline image is received by a controller. The at least one outline image includes at least one image field. Then, it is identified by an image processor, if the at least one image field includes at least one color marking. Based on the identification, the at least one image field is automatically filled by the image processor according to the at least one color marking to generate a color filled image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Srinivasarao Bindana, Sudhagar Subbaian
  • Patent number: 11044384
    Abstract: First, a color close to a prediction target color is selected as a similar color from among a plurality of sample colors for which spectral reflectances of a plurality of patches are obtained. Next, for a similar color, a relational equation representing the relationship between the spectral reflectances of a solid patch (a patch with the highest ink density) and the spectral reflectances of a color prediction target patch is obtained. Finally, the spectral reflectances of the solid patch for the prediction target color are applied to the relational equation, by which predicted values of spectral reflectances of the color prediction target patch for the prediction target color are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 11039037
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus for improving efficiency of a clipping process. The image processing unit is an image processing apparatus for a raster image processor (RIP) mounted in an image forming apparatus. An order acquiring unit acquires instructions for image processing. A determination unit, in a case where clipping is set according to the instructions acquired by the order acquiring unit, determines whether that clipping is to be in an inclusive mode or an exclusive mode, and in a case of the exclusive mode, calculates pixels that are to be protected in a frame for which image processing is to be performed, and sets a number of pixels necessary for a clipping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Nakamura, Kendrick Esperanza Wong
  • Patent number: 11032441
    Abstract: A marking color of a marking material (e.g., ink, toner, etc.) within a printer has a marking spectral reflectance property. Print media that has a media color approximately matching the marking color, but a different media spectral reflectance property, is identified (to form a geometric metameric pair). Differently colored calibration patches of the marking material are printed on a test sheet of the print media. A calibration patch, in which the printed color of the marking material most closely visually matches the media color, is used to identify a revised marking color. A watermark is printed on the print media using the revised marking color. The difference between the marking spectral reflectance property and the media spectral reflectance property causes the watermark to be visibly observable on the print media from one angle but prevents the watermark from being visibly observable from a different angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Edward N. Chapman
  • Patent number: 11003399
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes circuitry to receive a file including data of a plurality of pages and position information indicating individual positions of data of the plurality of pages. The circuitry further starts printing of one of the plurality of pages based on data specified by specifying information that indicates a position of data of one of the plurality of pages. The circuitry further starts the printing of one of the plurality of pages when receiving the specifying information before the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Junji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10999452
    Abstract: Pixel blocks of a user-generated print job raster page are clustered into raster color clusters, and pixel blocks of a corresponding scanned page are clustered into scanned color clusters. For each raster color cluster, if a color difference between the cluster and a corresponding scanned color cluster is greater than a threshold, color fading of the cluster is determined from simulated depletion of each colorant of a printing device, and a likely depleted colorant is determined based on the corresponding scanned color cluster and the determined color fading. A most likely depleted colorant is determined from the likely depleted colorant predicted for each raster color cluster for which the determined color difference is greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard E Maggard, Mark Shaw, Katelyn Christene Morse, Jan Allebach, Zuguang Xiao, Shaoyuan Xu
  • Patent number: 10986250
    Abstract: An image processing device and method are provided for adjusting background pixels of an image. The device includes memory which stores a background adjustment component which for each of a plurality of pixels of an input image: computes a background strength of the pixel; computes a luminance strength of the pixel; and computes adjusted luminance and adjusted chrominance values for the pixel, as a function of the background strength and luminance strength of the pixel. An image output component outputs an output image derived from the adjusted luminance and adjusted chrominance values for the plurality of pixels, A processor implements the background adjustment component and image output component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Metcalfe, Peter D. McCandlish